'Top Gear' Host Jeremy Clarkson to Be Fired by the BBC (Report)

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Jeremy Clarkson will be given his walking papers by the BBC on Wednesday morning, according to U.K. newspaper, the Telegraph.

The “Top Gear” host has been off the air since he was suspended by the network on March 10, following a fracas with one of the show’s producers.

Lord Hall, Director General of the BBC, is expected to announce his decision based on the findings of an internal investigation into the assault in which Clarkson spent 20 minutes verbally abusing producer Oisin Tymon, before launching a 30 second physical assault on him, reported the Telegraph.

The outburst occurred when Clarkson demanded steak and fries after a day of filming, but was told that the hotel in North Yorkshire, England, where the crew was staying, was no longer serving hot food.

The 54-year-old host had already received a “final warning” from the BBC for using a racist slur during filming last year.

Also Read: ‘Top Gear’s’ Future in Jeopardy After BBC Suspends Jeremy Clarkson

Clarkson didn’t help his cause when appearing at a charity auction in London on Thursday. “The BBC have f–ked themselves,” he said in a speech that the Guardian caught on camera. “[‘Top Gear’] was a great show and they f–ked it up.”

Both Clarkson and Tymon gave evidence during the investigation to decide the host’s fate and the future of the top-rated show, which airs on BBC2 in the U.K., BBC America in the U.S. and is watched by 350 million viewers in 170 countries around the world. According to the New York Times, Clarkson is paid about $1.5 million a year to present the show, making him one of the BBC’s highest paid employees.

Also Read: ‘Top Gear’ Host Jeremy Clarkson Tears Into Bosses: ‘The BBC Have F–ked Themselves’ (Video)

It is unclear whether “Top Gear” will continue without its controversial main driver, however the Telegraph reported that among the potential new hosts is Radio 2 Breakfast Show DJ Chris Evans.

There is also speculation that Clarkson may make the move to Netflix, due to his popularity with global audiences. There was outcry in January when it was announced that “Top Gear” was among a collection of British shows being dropped by Netflix due an expiring contract between the networks.

11 TV Shows Canceled by Controversy -- From 'Honey Boo Boo' to 'Politically Incorrect' (Photos)

Paula Deen’s Food Network shows - After admitting to using racial slurs, The Food Network severed their relationship with Deen and canceled her shows “Paula’s Home Cooking,” “Paula’s Best Dishes,” and “Paula’s Party.”
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“Politically Incorrect” – ABC pulled the plug on Bill Maher’s talk show after the host disagreed with President Bush calling the terrorists behind the September 11^th attacks cowards. Maher asserted that the U.S. military response in the Middle East was cowardly, saying: “We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly."
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“Luck” – HBO canceled Dustin Hoffman's series after three horses died during production.
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“Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” – TLC abruptly canceled the reality show after reports that June Shannon, mother to the young star of the series, was dating a convicted child molester.
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“Ford Nation” – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s talk show, co-hosted by his brother Doug, lasted only one episode. The program premiered on the same day the Toronto City Council voted to strip Ford of most of his powers and budget.
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“The Good Life” – CeeLo Green’s reality show was canned by TBS days after the musician pleaded no contest to a felony charge of giving a woman the drug ecstasy. He then tweeted: “People who have really been raped REMEMBER!!!”
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“7^th Heaven,” in syndication – Reruns of The WB series were pulled from UP TV after audio tapes surfaced of the show’s patriarchal star Stephen Collins admitting to child molestation.
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CNN’s Hillary Clinton documentary – Director Charles Ferguson pulled out of the project after Democrats, Republicans and the Clintons themselves criticized the film. CNN Films then canceled their plans to move forward with the documentary.
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“All My Babies' Mamas” – Oxygen was in the midst of developing a special featuring rapper Shawty Lo and his family of 11 children from 10 different women. An online petition to cancel the show led the cable channel to shelve the project.
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“Buckwild” – MTV suspended production on the reality series following the death of cast member Shain Gandee. The 21-year-old was found dead of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
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"Flip It Forward" – Twin brothers Jason and David Benham were set to star in their own HGTV series, but the network shut down those plans after learning about homophobic, anti-Muslim and anti-abortion statements they’d made in the past.
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1 of 11

All of these series had the plug pulled on them under less than ideal circumstances

Paula Deen’s Food Network shows - After admitting to using racial slurs, The Food Network severed their relationship with Deen and canceled her shows “Paula’s Home Cooking,” “Paula’s Best Dishes,” and “Paula’s Party.”

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11 TV Shows Canceled by Controversy -- From 'Honey Boo Boo' to 'Politically Incorrect' (Photos)

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